Book Description
From the bestselling author of In the Heart of the Sea—winner of the National Book Award—the startling story of the Plymouth Colony
From the perilous ocean crossing to the shared bounty of the first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrim settlement of New England has become enshrined as our most sacred national myth. Yet, as bestselling author Nathaniel Philbrick reveals in his spellbinding new book, the true story of the Pilgrims is much more than the well-known tale of piety and sacrifice; it is a fifty-five-year epic that is at once tragic, heroic, exhilarating, and profound.
The Mayflower's religious refugees arrived in Plymouth Harbor during a period of crisis for Native Americans as disease spread by European fishermen devastated their populations. Initially the two groups—the Wampanoags, under the charismatic and calculating chief Massasoit, and the Pilgrims, whose pugnacious military officer Miles Standish was barely five feet tall—maintained a fragile working relationship. But within decades, New England would erupt into King Philip's War, a savagely bloody conflict that nearly wiped out English colonists and natives alike and forever altered the face of the fledgling colonies and the country that would grow from them.
With towering figures like William Bradford and the distinctly American hero Benjamin Church at the center of his narrative, Philbrick has fashioned a fresh and compelling portrait of the dawn of American history—a history dominated right from the start by issues of race, violence, and religion.
Customer Reviews:
Educational book.......2007-09-26
This is a very informative, accurate writing of our history. More people should read and know the real history of our country.
Not what I expected, but.......2007-09-16
the book was still a captivating piece of literature. I read this directly after reading In the Heart of the Sea by Philbrick, and was expecting the same type of story. That was not the case however. The title is a bit misleading in that one thinks they are going to be reading (or at least I did) a story of the journey. The subtitle should have cued me in. The book is about the struggle between the settlers and the natives more so than it is about the voyage to the new world. All that being said, I still loved the book. I gave the book four stars because I wish there was more about the actual voyage, and I think the title is a little misleading. All in all though, it is a superb piece of literature.
Clear & Interesting narrative of a difficult and complex period.......2007-09-13
There really aren't very many good, recent books about the early years in Massachusetts. This is an exceptional treatment...very engaging and clear. The number of Indian tribes, the various Pilgrims, Puritans, etc. can be a real mess to understand. And of course, there is usually a biased or pointed perspective you have to deal with. Philbrick has genuine regard for the good on both the English side and the various Indian sides and heartfelt disdain for the vicious and stupid acts on both sides that caused this war and ultimately turned it into a 14 month blood bath throughout New England. Makes me want to do some real research here in my New Hampshire home town.
Myth History and Real History.......2007-09-13
Every American teen should read this book. Myth-busting, rich in suggestion and detail, comprehensively researched. The defining text for this country's first sixty years.
Teaches you something not learned in elementary school........2007-09-12
Would have preferred more maps, a Summary timeline of key events and Summary of all key individuals, especially relationships of all the Indian tribes and geographical locations. Occasionally the skipping around between times is a little confusing. But, the index is helpful.
Map of Southern New England and New York during King Philip's War should be brought forward to "Kindling the Flame Chapter," so that the battles could be followed with the map.
Mayflower: September 6, 1620 to November 9, 620 (65 day voyage)
102 members is cut to 50 by spring of 1620)
William Bradford (- 1657) - Leader, Wife falls off the Mayflower upon the arrival.
Christopher Jones - Mayflower Captain returns to England April 5 - May 6 1621
Pastor John Robinson ( - 1625) - Left in England influences Mayflower Compact
Miles Standish ( - 1656) - Strict/Brutal Military Captain for pilgrims, which laid the base of strength for the pilgrims position amongst the Indians
Thomas Weston & the Merchant Adventurers - Investment backers of the mayflower - Finally paid off in 1648. First payment lost to the French
King Philip's War
Josiah Winslow, Plymouth Leader
Mary Rowlandson, he Sovereignty & Goodness of God (Feb 10, 1676)
Captain Samuel Moseley, Massachusetts Bay most ferocious Indian fighter. The only good Indian is a dead Indian
Benjamin Church, Key military leader during the King Philip War, style opposite of Moseley
Treat the enemy like a human being
Learn as much as possible from the enemy
Bring the enemy to your way of thinking
Loyal Indians: Mohegans, Pequots, Niantic (subset of the Narragansetts)
Tri-axis: Nipmuck-Narragansett-Pokanoket
King Philip, Son of Massasoit (Pokanokets) King Philip's War 1675 - 1676
Killed in battle, quartered, head is placed as a fixture at Plymouth for over 2 decades; hand is a showcase through New England
July 1675: Pease Field Fight
Sept 3, 1675: Richard Beers Ambush 21 of 35 killed
Sept 1675: Bloody Brook, Captain Thomas Lathrop 57 of 65 killed, Moseley joins battle and saved by arrival of Major Robert Treat and friendly Mohegans
Dec 1675: Jireh Bull's Garrison 15 killed
Dec 19, 1675: Great Swamp fight Winslow, Church (injured) and Moseley and Pequots and Mohegans against the Narragansetts: Critical battle injuring the Narranansetts. Fort built by the Narrangansetts destroyed. Defensive stance questions the involvement o the Narranansetts in the war.
March 1676: Clark's Garrison Massacre
March 1676: Pierce's Massacre
April 9, 1676: Canonchet killed, beheaded, quartered and burned, Charismatic leader of the Narragansett with Philip
July 1676: King Philip's death: Church and his men. Caleb Cook and Pocasset named Alderman
Times called for brutal discipline. Fighting against odds of weather, food, Indians and other Europeans.
Similarities to "Praying Indians" & Japanese internment camp
1863 Abraham Lincoln officially established Thanksgiving
Book Description
When Bobby Pendragon first arrives on the tropical world of Ibara, he finds
paradise. As he works to uncover clues about the turning point this seemingly
idyllic territory will soon face, all he can determine is that the people of
Ibara are blissfully happy. It's not long before Bobby discovers, however, that
they are also blissfully...oblivious.
The leaders of Ibara are keeping a devastating secret from their people, one
that gives Saint Dane all the opportunity he needs to launch his final assault
on Halla.
While Bobby struggles to learn the truth in time to thwart Saint Dane, Courtney
Chetwynde desperately searches for Mark Diamond. On the heels of a shocking
tragedy, Mark has disappeared. Worse, he seems to be under Saint Dane's
influence. It's up to Courtney to find Mark and stop him from making a grave
mistake that could change the future of all existence.
Customer Reviews:
Pendragon rocks!.......2007-09-20
Another exciting chapter of the Pendragon adventure, the Pilgrims of Rayne continues to follow Bobby Pendragon, now a 17 year old boy, as he attempts to save another territory from being thrown into utter chaos by the very evil Saint Dane. As with the previous books, the twists and turns never stop! At times, what is revealed was so surprising that I had to stop and take a breather! The tone of this book shifts from the other books in that Bobby is starting to realize that his mission is about all of Halla, not just one territory. Things start to blend and shift. Victory is not as clear-cut as it was before for Bobby, and neither is defeat. And the motivations behind Saint Dane's evil acts are revealed more. Plus more time travel fun!
D.J. McHale is the master of surprise, white-knuckle suspense, as well as laugh out loud fun. This is possibly the best adventure series of all time, for both kids and adults. In my opinion, it is even better than Harry Potter. Grab all of his books today!
Great Book.......2007-08-31
This is a great addition to the Pendragon series. I highly recomend reading the first books first.
Very good!.......2007-08-17
Ok, this is book 8 and I can see major events unfolding but I'm a little frustrated as to where this whole thing is going. The territories are all mixed and there are indications of a huge grand scheme. I would like more glimpses into the grand scheme. We can go to 1000 territories and have adventures but it gets a little boring after a while when the stories don't culminate into meaning. I think it's time we enter more into Saint Dane's world and experience that a bit.
review by A Tran.......2007-08-12
You have got to read this book! When you think something will happen, the story does something totally different. I have read the whole series and I love it. It has a sense of adventure when Bobby goes to the different territories. Plus you never know what will happen. The author also uses what happens in the previous books as an effect of something a character in the story might do in another book. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys science fiction or action books. Also the author builds the energy in the story then lets it all out towards the end. Unlike other authors who build until the middle of the story, then the rest is boring.
Pendragon book.......2007-07-30
Even though there was some difficulty recieving this book the seller handeled it promptly and with Grace.
Outstanding
Book Description
An exhilarating meditation on nature and its seasons-a personal narrative highlighting one year's exploration on foot in the author's own neighborhood in Tinker Creek, Virginia. In the summer, Dillard stalks muskrats in the creek and contemplates wave mechanics; in the fall she watches a monarch butterfly migration and dreams of Arctic caribou. She tries to con a coot; she collects pond water and examines it under a microscope. She unties a snake skin, witnesses a flood, and plays -King of the Meadow' with a field of grasshoppers.
Customer Reviews:
What was promised.......2007-08-20
Took about a week to get book, but knew this, arrived in great shape. Happy customer , would buy again.
Resonance with nature and with readers.......2007-08-17
The Pilgrim at Tinker Creek has a LOT to say. It has nearly as many frills as the natural world it describes--and all of them lovely--thanks to Annie Dillard's poetic style. She moves effortlessly from the most informal to the most elevated language, a feat I've rarely seen. Just as importantly, there is a bedrock of deep thought beneath Dillard's unique prose.
Readers will enjoy this book no matter their level of comprehension, but in all likelihood, no one will understand Dillard's every nuance and message. She may or may not realize that her own writing mimicks the intricacy of nature, and with its emotional ups and downs seems to describe the change of seasons that she discusses in many of her chapters. Dillard not only thinks wisely about nature, but she also begins to resonate with it on an unconscious level. She is not merely a distanced observer, but she allows herself to truly be PRESENT, and to let her surroundings act on her. Between her conscious statements are hidden transformations.
I'll get personal, because I think each reader's experience will be different: This book made me long to understand what she understood, and to do what she had done. My experience with this book was one of need: I felt the strong urge to mimic her foray into the nearby outdoors, and not to imitate her further, but to find equally individual conclusions for myself.
Read this book if you want to think.......2007-06-01
When I started this book for my 7th grade Humanities class, I didn't really know what to expect. I started it a week later than my classmates, and kept hearing conflicting opinions. It was really long, it was fairly short, it was hard to pay attention to and hard to understand, it sucked you in and made sure you got the message. Now that I've read it, I've come to agree with the last opinion. For me, Tinker Creek was like looking through someone else's eyes at the world. Once I started reading, it was hard to stop.
The only problem I think is that it jumps around a lot, and even though some trains of thought she follows up on later in the book, most are left hanging when you wanted to know more about them. However, I still thought it was a great book, if a tad heavy on metaphors.
a review by a 7th grader.......2007-06-01
I found this book very confusing, but interesting. She (the author) is a very descriptive writer, but it is hard to decipher her meaning through the complexity. She rarely talks about other people, but instead she talks about her own experiences. If you can get past the way it is written, it holds interesting concepts.
"When I was quite young, I fondly imagined that all forighn languages were codes for English" is the start of one of her curious topics. If this book only had one word in it it would be the word "nature." That is what the book is built around ant the topic it never leaves. If you are a determined reader and love the natural world, this is definitely the book for you.
i read this for a school assignment, so i am probably not old enough to understand it completely
Unique and Scientific.......2007-04-18
I had just finished Walden and I was hoping Pilgrim At Tinker Creek would be a little easier reading. It was and I liked the book very much. It reminded me of Mary Oliver's Blue Pastures with the descriptions of the natural world. The flow of the book was better than Blue Pastures as Dillard's book seems to tell a story about her home and surroundings. She writes about how people interact with nature and how humans try to make nature fit into their ways of life. This is illustrated by the story of the town people trying to get rid of the starling population.
You can tell the author loves nature by all of her vivid descriptions. Some of them like the frog having the life sucked out of him are graphic enough that parents of young children might want to censor the book. Dillard views nature as it really is. She epitomizes the survival of the fittest; there is no sugar coating on what she sees and describes. I especially liked the descriptions of the spiders that she let live in her house just so she could observe them and how they contributed to nature's processes.
Dillard's book would be an excellent book for parents to expose their children since most children today do not see nature unless it is on a video game. The book lends great insight on the outdoors from the brilliance of a summer storm to the coming to life of Tinker Creek in the spring. Dillard's knowledge of biology is well illustrated as she describes many of life processes from the creation of atoms to the death of a gold fish.
The reader can walk side by side with Dillard as she contemplates life and its complexities. I can guarantee that once you have read this book you will not look at a walk in the woods in the same way ever again. Dillard takes a long hard look at what is out there and makes you realize that life is not always exactly as it seems.
Book Description
Dive Into Python is a hands-on guide to the Python language. Each chapter starts with a real complete code sample, proceeds to pick it apart and explain the pieces, and then puts it all back together again in a summary at the end.
Python is a new and innovative scripting language. It is set to replace Perl as the programming language of choice for shell scripters, and for serious application developers wanting a feature rich yet simple language to deploy their products in.
This book is not for newbies, for wimps, or for dummies™. It assumes a lot about you:
- You know at least one real object-oriented language, such as Java, C#, or Delphi.
- You know at least one other scripting language, such as Perl, Visual Basic, or Javascript.
If you’re just getting started programming, that doesn’t mean you can’t learn Python. Python is an easy language to learn, but you should probably learn it somewhere else. That said,
Dive Into Python will be a guide for people who can jump into languages fast and get going.
Download Description
Dive Into Python is a hands-on guide to the Python language. Each chapter starts with a real, complete code sample, proceeds to pick it apart and explain the pieces, and then puts it all back together in a summary at the end.
Python is a new and innovative scripting language. It is set to replace Perl as the programming language of choice for shell scripters, and for serious application developers wanting a feature-rich, yet simple language, with which to deploy their products.
This book is not for newbies, for wimps, or For Dummies™. It assumes a lot about you:
- You know at least one real object-oriented language, such as Java, C#, or Delphi
- You know at least one other scripting language, such as Perl, Visual Basic, or Javascript
Dive Into Python will be a guide for readers who can jump into languages fast and get going right away.
Customer Reviews:
good dive.......2007-10-01
nice examples to dive into and get a whole view of the language in very short time. but not recommended for newcomers in programming.
Quick approach.......2007-08-06
Although this book is only a quick approach to python it makes the reader have a good background to continue learning python on itself.
Excellent gateway book for Python.......2007-07-29
Having learned Perl first in my programming career, I pretty much ignored Python from the start. Perl's "TMTOWTDI" (There's More Than One Way To Do It) philosophy, coupled with the strange (to me) way that Python enforced blocking (with indention) kept Python in my peripheral vision for quite some time. Over the years, I've become more and more curious about Python, and decided to give it a shot. After a little browsing, I chose the curiously titled Dive Into Python. Dive Into Python may be an old book (the book was originally published in 2004), but it still stands as a great gateway for programmers from other languages to get a good sense of what Python is and how they can apply their current knowledge to learning the Python language.
Dive Into Python is the name of author Mark Pilgrim's site for learning Python. The text of the book is available, as are links to other great resources for learning Python. I noticed no differences between the print version and the published version. I have to commend the author on making his book freely available in electronic form as well as print form because it allowed me the freedom to have the book with me wherever I needed it, and increased the value of the book.
One of the major strengths of Dive into Python is the author's use of other languages to teach Python. The book contains examples from Perl, Java and Visual Basic to elaborate concepts familiar to all four languages. This helped me to use my knowledge from these other languages to grasp both the similarities and differences between the languages. When discussing dictionaries in Python, the author gives three comparisons, starting with Perl: "A dictionary in Python is like a hash in Perl. In Perl, variables that store hashes always start with a % character. In Python, variables can be named anything, and Python keeps track of the datatype internally." Directly beneath that is the comparison for Java programmers: "A dictionary in Python is like an instance of the Hashtable class in Java." Visual Basic follows: "A dictionary in Python is like an instance of the Scripting.Dictionary object in Visual Basic." Other books have done this, but what makes this especially friendly is how the author separates this from the text, so you don't miss it. Each of these examples is in a bullet list, rather than embedded in the text for brevity (I can easily see an author abbreviating the above as "Perl uses hashes, Java uses Hashtables, and Visual Basic uses Scripting.Dictionary", which could easily be missed).
Dive Into Python is comprised of the the following chapters: Installing Python, Your First Python Program, Native Datatypes, The Power Of Introspection, Objects and Object-Orientation, Exceptions and File Handling, Regular Expressions, HTML Processing, XML Processing, Scripts and Streams, HTTP Web Services, SOAP Web Services, Unit Testing, Test-First Programming, Refactoring, Functional Programming, Dynamic functions, and Performance Tuning. Most chapters have a similar format, generally starting with code for a specific projects. As with most any book, these projects are canned projects, ranging from printing methods in doc strings, printing ID3 info in a directory of MP3 files, or doing a simple Google search from the command line. The examples are complete, working programs, and the introduction of foreign concepts explained in the chapter really helped my learning process out. My natural curiosity took over, so I would find myself flipping back and forth in the chapter to see where the line of code, or idiom was used in the beginning program and start understanding how and why that piece of code worked. The author also makes a point whenever he uses a particular idiom from Python to note the last time it was used, or where it was introduced. I found it exceptionally helpful, though the technique lends itself better to an electronic format than it does in a printed book. Another useful technique is the bulleted list. A quick (and very abridged) example would be where the author is initially describing lists:
>>> li = ["a", "b", "mpilgrim", "z", "example"] (1)
(later on in the example)
(1) First, you define a list of five elements. Note that they retain their original order. This is not an accident. A list is an ordered set of elements enclosed in square brackets.
The above example is just a small taste of the format. For me this was a very helpful approach to understanding what each line was doing, and allowed the author to show the code first, and then explain the parts he wanted to elaborate more in the bulleted lists.
Dive Into Python is an excellent tutorial for learning the Python Language. The author is quick to point out new concepts and idioms of the language in a way that is both clear and at times very witty. The author also conveys his enjoyment of the language in a non-threatening and patient way, which makes Dive Into Python an excellent tutorial for those who are, like me, already familiar with other languages, and want to know more about Python. My only complaint about Dive Into Python is that there hasn't been an update since 2004 to this great text. Perhaps when Python 3000 is released, the author will once again revisit this book. As it stands, I highly recommend anyone looking for a good introduction to Python check out Dive Into Python.
Brilliant Python introduction for experienced programmers.......2007-05-12
Definitely aimed at experienced programmers this books uses a very interesting approach to teach Python. Each chapter starts with a coding example that the author explains in a lot of detail, showing the most important language constructs and the best way to solve problems using Python.
Easy to study.......2007-03-23
When studing a programming language from a textbook you often have to switch back an forth from the book to a computer to test some example or dig out some doubt. I was really pleased to see that you don't need to do it with this book.
The text covers python very well (IMHO), but also touches XML parsing, web services, test-first programming, performance tuning and other techinques that I found very useful.
It is also quite funny to read...
Customer Reviews:
A great read!.......2007-03-12
I remember seeing this book in my grandparents' home back in the '50's. Always thought it was about Plymouth Rock until I started attending church and found out it was an allegory on the Christian's walk with Christ. I really like the language of this particular book as it makes clear the different stages of the Christian walk. I was not aware of the second part about Christiana, which was thoroughly enjoyable as well. Definitely a keeper.
Please read Bunyan's version, not this one.......2007-03-09
John Bunyan's language is really not in the least bit difficult to understand. His The Pilgrim's Progress IS in "Moden English," so it very misleading to say that you can translate them into "Modern English"; they can only be paraphrased. It's bad enough when people read re-written Shakespeare (ok, awful, in my opinion), but at least they have the excuse that Shakespeare can be difficult. If you're going to take the time to read the whole thing, and not simply a summary, why not read what Bunyan actually wrote? Look at his opening, for example:
"As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place, where was a Den. And I laid me down in that place to sleep: And as I slept I dreamed a Dream. I dreamed, and behold I saw a Man clothed with Rags, standing in a certain place..."
As you can see already, his style is unique, but not at all difficult to understand, and certainly easier than the King James Bible for example. Anyone capable of reading the whole length of the Pilgrim's Progress should have very little trouble with it, so what need is there for a substitute? Please read the real thing, preferably with the original spelling and punctuation (though you can surely find modernized versions that still preserve the original diction, if you prefer)! I promise you'll thank me for it later.
My English Teacher's Attempt to Force Christianity Upon Us.......2007-02-12
This is one of the worst books I've ever read in my life. The plot is boring and horribly predictable, the characters are flat, and the story is wholy uninspiring. I've read much better devotional books than this so-called "literature." If you want to be inspired, go read the actual Bible; don't settle for an imitation.
Great Bible Tool.......2007-01-04
Great to use as a supplement to the Bible. It helps to amplify God's Word in a real world practical way.
Not what is depicted with the cover view.......2006-08-17
In searching for this title I found there were 60+ versions out there so I had to rely on both editor and cover pictorials to determine the one I was seeking (which was modern English, full page pictorials, and covering both Christian's and Christiana's journeys). Since I had the one I wanted in hand, I put a lot of faith in the cover visual. What I got was as version without full page pictures, small print and in the older dialect. From what other pilgrims have told me, the modern English version is essential in understanding this work. I donated it to the local library in hopes it will still do good.
Book Description
Jitterbug Perfume is an epic. which is to say, it begins in the forests of ancient Bohemia and doesn't conclude until nine o'clock tonight [Paris time]. It is a saga, as well. A saga must have a hero, and the hero of this one is a janitor with a missing bottle. The bottle is blue, very, very old, and embossed with the image of a goat-horned god. If the liquid in the bottle is actually is the secret essence of the universe, as some folks seem to think, it had better be discovered soon becaused it is leaking and there is only a drop of two left.
Download Description
Jitterbug Perfume is an epic. which is to say, it begins in the forests of ancient Bohemia and doesn't conclude until nine o'clock tonight [Paris time]. It is a saga, as well. A saga must have a hero, and the hero of this one is a janitor with a missing bottle. The bottle is blue, very, very old, and embossed with the image of a goat-horned god. If the liquid in the bottle is actually is the secret essence of the universe, as some folks seem to think, it had better be discovered soon becaused it is leaking and there is only a drop of two left.
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-25
An amusing book. Seems to also explain why American sugar/sweetening tastes worse in coke, etc., the use of beets instead of proper sugar cane!
Anyway, lots of silliness and erotic cravings for sensual indulgence, some shagging and a bit of running around by the god Pan. Not too bad.
One of the greatest modern American writers.......2007-09-18
Still Life With Woodpecker is my favorite Robbins, and this is a close second. If you like the English language at all and if you have any sort of imagination, you simply have to love this guy.
He spins words in dizzying patterns, pulling thoughts and concepts and connections out of thin air like a literary magician. Even when he misses his mark you've got to give him credit for his daring. Not afraid to digress down endless allies of goofiness, Robbins occasionally finds the light at the end of the tunnel and is thrilling at those moments.
The rest of the time his polymath mind teaches you all sorts of things about all sorts of things, while keeping a smile on your face. I still recall this book when I eat beets, even 20 years later.
There's some very real genius in parts of Jitterbug Perfume.
This book will make you think in ways you have never thought before, and learn about your mind in the process; what more can you ask of art?
MUY ULTIMO, DUDE !.......2007-07-16
WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE MOST FASCINATING BOOK THAT I HAVE EVER READ.
BE PREPARED FOR ADVENTURE. COMING FROM THE WORLDS BIGGEST VONNEGUT
FAN, THATS SAYING A LOT. PLEASE DO NOT MISS THIS ONE.
GENE ADDINGTON
Tom Robbins at his BEST........2007-06-23
I am a die hard Tom Robbins fan and this is his best work and my all time favorite book. I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone. Right now I'm re-reading it for the fourth time, its a great story to revisit every once in a while.
Sweeping, Dynamic and Entertaining.......2007-04-28
Tom Robbins shows in "Jitterbug Perfume" that he is the master of language and not afraid to play with the English language. His similes and metaphors are always good for a laugh or gape of awe . .
This book tells the story of a perfume bottle, a man who started as king, became a peasant, then a wanderer and finally an immortal and his journeys, the decline and death of Pan, and various perfumers who are seeking the ultimate fragrance. And let's not forget the unwritten hero of the book - the glorious beet!
The book is full of twists and turns, mostly created by Robbins' creative use of the English language - he bends rules into all sorts of interesting shape. If you are a fan of Robbins, a fan of epic stories, or even a fan of books that are a bit different, you will LOVE this one! Don't miss it!
Book Description
One of the greatest and most ambitious works in English literature, The Canterbury Tales depicts a storytelling competition between pilgrims drawn from all ranks of society.
The tales are as various as the pilgrims themselves, encompassing comedy, pathos, tragedy, and cynicism. The Miller and the Reeve express their mutual antagonism in a pair of comic stories combining sex and trickery; in "The Shipman's Tale," a wife sells her favors to a monk. Others draw on courtly romance and fantasy: the Knight tells of rivals competing for the love of the same woman, and the Squire describes a princess who can speak to birds. In these twenty-four tales, Chaucer displays a dazzling range of literary styles and conjures up a wonderfully vivid picture of medieval life.
Customer Reviews:
A perfect edition.......2007-02-26
This is an unbelievably great edition of The Canterbury Tales. All I wanted was the original, complete version with definitions for archaic words. But the Penguin Classics edition was all I could find, so I got it. It comes with over 500 pages of extras!!! Super-detailed notes, a great glossary, and lots on Chaucer, his times, literary genres, etc., etc. Multiple interpretations are given for parts scholars don't agree on. I can't believe I paid $80 for the Riverside Chaucer in college! ...which I later sold back for much less. This edition blew me away, and it's relatively cheap.
If you haven't read Chaucer and want to read him in old English, it's tough at first, but it gets easier with practice. There are long tales, short tales, noble tales, bawdy tales, etc. If you just want to read a few, there are cheaper paperbacks with just a few. If you want the complete tales but not the essays and things, they exist, but they're more expensive than this edition!
Chaucer Was a Sly Fox.......2007-02-12
Chacuer's Tales have lived on because they address the human condition with keen insight, humor and honesty. Walking to Canterbury by Jerry Ellis is a highly recommended read for those who want to follow the author on a fun walking adventure along the route of the Canterbury Tales. It is easy reading and filled with heart, humor and amazing little known facts about the Middle Ages.
Great inexpensive complete edition of Chaucer.......2006-10-24
Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales (Original-Spelling Edition). Edited by Jill Mann. Penguin Classics, 2005. ISBN 014042234X.
The Canterbury Tales itself needs no review, as Chaucer is universally acknowledged to be the greatest English poet after Shakespeare and Milton. As Chaucer's Prologue explains, the Tales are stories told by pilgrims en route to Canterbury. They range from tales of courtly love to bawdy farce to fable. Chaucer is a storyteller, and it might surprise some modern people just how entertaining a seven-hundred-year-old collection of stories might be.
Unfortunately, the English language has changed since Chaucer's time, making it difficult for modern English readers to enjoy the Canterbury Tales without a bit of work. Chaucer wrote in a dialect of Middle English (ME) which is a direct ancestor of Present Day English (PDE). This relationship makes Chaucer much easier to read than other dialects of ME further removed from PDE, such as that in which the Gawain poet wrote. Chaucer's vocabulary, consisting mainly of words derived from French and Old English, is also easier than the Gawain poet's. With a little concentration, the modern reader will probably find many ME words that looked unintelligible are actually similar to PDE words. (This edition includes a note on "Chaucer's Language" which explains Middle English grammar well, but due to its use of grammatical terminology, it will be helpful only to those who already know what such things as pluperfect and genitive singular mean.) Getting used to Middle English will take time, but it's worth it.
Now for this particular edition. I found it well edited, with glosses at the bottom of each page and detailed endnotes, which occupy about a third of the volume. Very rarely did I have a question that Mann did not address in one place or the other. There is a 140-page glossary which includes (I think) all words glossed. Archaic characters such as thorn are replaced with their modern equivalents; otherwise spelling is unchanged. My only complaint is its bulkiness: at 1254 pages, it's quite fat.
Here's a sample of the Canterbury Tales as edited by Mann:
Whilom, as olde stories tellen us,
Ther was a duc that highte Theseus. 860
Of Atthenes he was lord and governour,
And in his time swich a conqueror
That gretter was ther noon under the sonne.
Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne,
What with his wisdom and his chivalrye. 865
859 Whilom: once upon a time 860 highte: was called
Here's my prose modernization:Long ago, as old stories tell us, there was a duke that was called Theseus. He was the lord and governor of Athens, and such a conqueror that there was none greater under the sun. He had won many a rich country with his wisdom and chivalry.
Now Chaucer can be more complicated than this, but Mann's glosses almost always make him intelligible to the enterprising reader. Many words are very similar to their modern equivalents: "tellen" = "tell," "ther" = "there," "swich" = "such." The French influence is obvious in such words as "riche" and "duc."
As you can see, glosses are identifiable by line numbers at the bottom of the page, but they are not set off in the text. Line numbers correspond, I believe, to the standard lineation of the Tales.
At about twelve dollars on Amazon, this edition is a bargain. It's complete and cheap. I highly recommend it to those who want to read the actual words that Chaucer wrote.
Worth its weight in gold.......2006-05-30
I bought this Penguin Classics edition of Chaucer last year during a visit to Canterbury. I already owned the modernized edition edited by the late Nevill Coghill, but I figured: Hey, I'm in Canterbury--I have to buy a copy. So I bought this one.
For starters, this is the complete text of the Tales, and it is in the original Middle English. While the language may take a while to get used to (for beginners, especially) it's a blast to read. Another plus for this edition is the heavy, heavy glossing and a really extensive notes section which helped even an experienced reader of Chaucer like myself.
If you're new to Chaucer, or even if you're not, this is the edition to have. It's a paperback, so it's portable, and it's complete. You won't be left wanting an odd tale or two with this book.
Highly recommended.
Average customer rating:
- The Camino - a test of body and character
- Not better than 'The Alchemist'
- Awful awful awful. Just plain awful!!!!
- A Private Journey to Explore Self
- Fascinating...
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The Pilgrimage: A Contemporary Quest for Ancient Wisdom
Paulo Coelho
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ASIN: 006251279X |
Book Description
Here Paulo Coelho details his journey across Spain along the legendaryroad of San Tiago, which pilgrims have travelled since Middle Ages. On this contemporary quest, he encounters a Chaucerian variety of mysterious guides and devilish opponents and learns to understand the nature of truth through the simplicity of life. The Pilgrimage holds an important place in Paulo Coelho's literary canon.His first book, it not only paved the way for his phenomenal novel The Alchemist , but it also fully expresses his humanist philosophy and the depth of his unique search for meaning.
Customer Reviews:
The Camino - a test of body and character.......2007-07-21
I read The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho soon after completing my own 800 km pilgrimage from St Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago in the north-west of Spain.
Readers who are looking for a factual, chronological, "travel book" of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela will be disappointed. There is only the vaguest chronology in the book. A few towns and important pilgrimage sites are mentioned. There is only a sketchy picture drawn of the terrain and countryside.
But that is quite irrelevant. The Pilgrimage is a much more sophisticated account of the psychological and spiritual aspects of pilgrimage. In fact, the physical vagueness in the book complements the inner struggles of the pilgrim.
The pilgrim in Coelho's book is on a quest for his sword so that he can complete his apprenticeship in the Tradition and be able to perform the deeds of his Master. The quest takes place on the road to Santiago and the pilgrim (with his spiritual guide) encounters magical tests that expand his psychological horizons.
This resonated with me in the sense that the Camino finds the weak points in our bodies and characters and tests them. Reflective pilgrims gain personal insights, and, for many, their lives change in significant ways after completing the Camino. Coelho makes the same points by his use of magic to illustrate the inner transformation of his pilgrim.
The book also includes meditative exercises that the pilgrim performed at critical times on his journey. While some of the exercises are a little unrealistic, such as the Cruelty Exercise of self-mortification, most of them can be performed by anyone, with resulting benefit. I wish I had read the book before my own pilgrimage so I could have done more in this respect.
This was Coelho's first book and it shows to a large extent. It is uneven in quality and lacks the tightness of his later work, such as The Alchemist - which it resembles in its basic structure of an individual's quest for meaning.
Not better than 'The Alchemist'.......2007-07-10
This is the most esoteric work by Coelho. It is easy read and a plesent one. It reminds me a lot of 'Teachings of Don Juan' by Castaneda, although Coelho's novel is rooted in christian religion. If you didn't read Castaneda, you will love this one. If you did, you will like it :)
Awful awful awful. Just plain awful!!!!.......2007-07-05
This book was just painful to finish. Pointless new age pseudo religious drivel. Coelho goes on a Catholic pilgrimage, wrestles with possessed dogs, hangs out with magicians and then dances around in castles pretending to be a knight Templar with his equally loony mates.
This is supermarket spirituality at its very worst. A pointless book unless you are one of those "All organised religion is bad so lets just make it up as you go along"
A Private Journey to Explore Self.......2007-04-05
Although "The Pilgrimage" is not Paulo Coelho's most exalted work, it is still a wonderful plunge into the mystical journey. In this book, he chronicles his own experiences on the road to Santiago de Compostela in the region of Galicia known as Celtic Spain. The journey is rich with allegory reflecting how we must face our own fears in order to engage in what he calls "the good fight". The Pilgrimage is reminiscent of Carlos Castañeda's apprenticeship with his mentor Don Juan. Paulo's guide is the enigmatic Petrus, who teaches him to face his own limitations and to break him from the "modernist" notion that our busy work is more important than exploring our inner world. There is a sweet discovery about the book that brings presence to a wisdom that includes mystical exercises worthy of our attention.
Fascinating..........2007-03-20
To all of you out there, this book really gives you the opportunity to understand Paulo's philosophy of life. It is not strange that he was able to write the Alquimist after this book.
The different RAM Exercises are useful on daily life and it is a good starting point for those of you looking to learn more about who we really are.
Average customer rating:
- Jennifer's review
- MY BOY LOVES READING IT
- It's an okay book
- Boring, Boring, & Thanksgivingnesh
- The Magic Tree house
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Thanksgiving on Thursday (Magic Tree House #27)
Mary Pope Osborne
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ASIN: 0375806156
Release Date: 2002-09-24 |
Book Description
The Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie back to the eve of the first Thanksgiving. There they meet the Pilgrims as well as Squanto, a Native American who helped them. The story offers an age-appropriate, in-depth picture of what life was really like for early settlers, as well as the usual Magic Tree House adventure and excitement.
Customer Reviews:
Jennifer's review.......2007-02-02
Jack and Annie travel back in time to the year of 1621,the time of the Pilgrams.Jack and Annie was sent by Morgan Le Fay to find the art of magic. Jack and Annie were in a forest and spied on the pilgrams when they got there, but Annie saw a dog which scared Jack and alerted the pilgrams. Jack told this fib to Squanto and the pilgrams. After the fib, all of the kids went hunting and gathering while Jack and Annie went into the water, in search for eels and clams in the ocean. After, they went to a house and cooked turkey for the feast. Jack ruined the turkey and felt horrible. It was all right and they had a feast outdoors. Jack and Annie returned home after finding the magic of community.
MY BOY LOVES READING IT.......2007-01-07
My 1st grader hates to put it down, he would rather read Magic Tree House books, than play video games. He even reads them to his class and explains the story for show and tell. In his kindergarten class the teacher would also let him read the Magic Tree House books out loud, not to give her a break, but to promote reading out loud. Great books!
It's an okay book .......2006-11-07
Thanksgiving on Thursday is an okay book because it is about a boy (Jack) and a girl (Annie) that go back in time to the first feast of thanksgiving. They help a woman prepare for the first Thankgiving dinner. They had to gather some of the food for the harvest. Jack gets caught in a snare set for an animal! Read it--it's okay!
Boring, Boring, & Thanksgivingnesh.......2006-10-31
All this book is about how the Indians and Pilgrims started Thanks giving. I read thi book when i was 8. It was alright back then.
BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU READ THIS BOOK !!!!
The Magic Tree house.......2006-06-12
The story startes out when Jack and his little sister Annie are on their way to a place called Plymouth. At first they had no idea where they were until Jack was hung after he accidently steped into a trap; they finally found out where they were.
First, this story takes place during the time of the pilgrims coming to the United States from England on a ship well-known as the Mayflower. The story's sequence startes when Jack and Annie are introduced to all the pilgrims and an indian; his name Squanto. Sooner on in the story Jack and Annie learn how to hunt and fish for there own food. While in a women's house Jack learned how to cook over the fire. But, they run into a problem; they didn't know how things ran around there. But a women nice enough told them just that. Her nam was Prinscilla.
Last in the story they have wonderful and unforgiving diner. Also known as the First Thanksgiving Feast. Jack and Annie enjoyed their time in Plymouth because they have learned as much as I did.
I thought that this book was an awesome experience for me because I have learned alot about the pilgrims and what it was like back in the day.
Book Description
A narrative encyclopedia of American criminals from the pilgrims to the present.
Customer Reviews:
Good But Could Have Been Better.......2006-06-25
This book was an interesting read from cover to cover, but there are ways in which it could have been improved. For one thing, Nash spends far more time than I'd have liked giving us blow by blow accounts of the exploits of Wild Western outlaws and Mafia gangsters, then gives comparatively short shrift to people who are, arguably, of much more current interest, such as serial killers like Jeff Dahmer or Ted Bundy. Some mass murderers who had already had their sprees when this book was last updated are left out completely, such as James Huberty. In short, Nash seems to have some very clear biases about what "badmen" he felt were important, or interesting, and the others got short-changed, if they were brought up at all. My feeling is that if Nash wants to do books that are primarily about the Old West or the Mafia, let him do so, but when he purports to give us a book that covers the full spectrum of United States violent criminals, I expect a more even-handed approach. Not only that, but a number of serial killers were also left out, apparently for no reason other than that the killer remains unidentified (such as the Zodiac, or the Axeman of New Orleans.) Given the impact and terror that those worthies had on the general public at the time they were operating, their absence here is very hard to take.
Additionally, the book could have really used a more skilled editor to catch all the typos, mis-spelled words and goofs in typesetting. I don't know about other readers, but when I see a grossly mis-spelled word as I'm reading, I stop myself and have to mentally correct it before I can continue. An occasional one that no one caught is, I suppose, forgivable, but the rampant stream of them in this volume was asking too much.
Overall, the book was a good read, but there is definitely room for improvement should Nash ever update it again.
Purple prose and cheap research.......2006-03-17
Typical stuff from Nash, one of the premier hacks of our time. Old tales openly lifted from other sources get retold with a lot of tabloid style writing and occasional adherence to facts. There are so many better books out there on crime and criminals. If you care about good writing and solid research, avoid this one!
Correction.......2005-07-28
I just want to correct the reviewer who called the female murderer Gretchen Baniszewski in his review. Her name is Gertrude Baniszewski.
Very Interesting Read!.......2005-05-28
I bought this book when it first came out in the hardback edition but it got misplaced, somehow so, I was pleased to see the up-dated version available in paper back and I ordered it.
It is a fanatstic book, chuck full of information and pictures and very interesting to read. It's a great book for true crime enthusiasts. I recommend it.
A crime not to buy this!.......2002-09-12
This book is so big and fantastic I have read it twice. Each criminal and gangster is a story in their own right, and most are dispicable as one can come. The only problem is I wish Nash would put recent killers in his book, ala O.J. Simpson. (or the one armed man who framed him).
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